This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
I've been waiting, pacing along the halls ever since you left here
I've been cleaning, scrubbing the plates and weeding out the garden dear
I can't fall asleep to your mystery slowly blowing from the shore
I have not failed to be what you'd expect of me
Swallowing glass just to stay pure
All the birds are heading down south but you're staying up north you say
I've got jackets blankets and sheets, its going to be a cold december
It could be warm you see, a statue next to me
Swimming away from the ice and snow
Could I have failed to see the signs in front of me
Warning and flashing symbols, subtle and simple I couldn't see
I couldnt see
If only time could slow down, maybe I could come up
It's such a cold december
It's such a cold december
Its so cold
I cant fall asleep to your mystery slowly blowing from the shore
I have not failed to be what you'd expect of me
Swallowing glass just to stay pure
Summers come and summer has gone
Your christmas cards cant comfort me
You've found new friends and tied all the ends
It's freezing in the loneliest winter
It could be warm you see, a statue next to me
Swimming away from the ice and snow
Could I have failed to see the signs in front of me
Warning and flashing symbols, subtle and simple I couldnt see
I couldnt see
If only time could slow down, then maybe I could come up
It's such a cold december
It's such a cold december
It's so cold
I've been cleaning, scrubbing the plates and weeding out the garden dear
I can't fall asleep to your mystery slowly blowing from the shore
I have not failed to be what you'd expect of me
Swallowing glass just to stay pure
All the birds are heading down south but you're staying up north you say
I've got jackets blankets and sheets, its going to be a cold december
It could be warm you see, a statue next to me
Swimming away from the ice and snow
Could I have failed to see the signs in front of me
Warning and flashing symbols, subtle and simple I couldn't see
I couldnt see
If only time could slow down, maybe I could come up
It's such a cold december
It's such a cold december
Its so cold
I cant fall asleep to your mystery slowly blowing from the shore
I have not failed to be what you'd expect of me
Swallowing glass just to stay pure
Summers come and summer has gone
Your christmas cards cant comfort me
You've found new friends and tied all the ends
It's freezing in the loneliest winter
It could be warm you see, a statue next to me
Swimming away from the ice and snow
Could I have failed to see the signs in front of me
Warning and flashing symbols, subtle and simple I couldnt see
I couldnt see
If only time could slow down, then maybe I could come up
It's such a cold december
It's such a cold december
It's so cold
Lyrics submitted by mrs-mojo-risin
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This could be in my top 5 favorite songs of 2005.
hes trying to change himself and do anything he can to get this girl back...hes lonely :( love this line "All the birds are heading down south but you're staying up north"
i saw the vid for cold december on fuse & i fell in love with the song.
"I cant fall asleep to your mystery slowly blowing from the shore I have not failed to be what you'd expect of me Swallowing glass just to stay pure"
that's my favorite part, especially the last line..
Amazing song, about being seperated from someone.
my current favourite song :)
matt costa kicks ass
i think it is similar to astair in meaning. he doesn't meet this girls expectations so now he's doing all this work she wanted him to do before they broke up in hope that she'll come back one day. i dont she will return tho, but he still has some false hope left. The summer/winter represents him being with or with out her.
I pretty much get the song but I dont understand the lines "I can't fall asleep to your mystery slowly blowing from the shore" and "It could be warm you see, a statue next to me Swimming away from the ice and snow"....i dont understand them...does the first one mean that its hard for him to sleep, not knowing where she is and what shes doing?? and I dont really have a guess for the statue one....sooo if anyone has an idea please help
I'm guessing a guy has a crush on this girl and he thinks about her everydayv. He's too afraid to tell her how he feels and the longer he waits, the more he fears that he will never see her again. Heh, I can relate.
Remember, lyrics usually have different meanings to it. Even if it says "I can't fall asllep to your mystery," doesn't litterally mean he's having trouble sleeping. It could mean he's constantly thinking about the girl and want to know more about her or something like that.